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Parramatta Eels Juniors

Poupou Escobar

Poupou Escobar

Post Whore
Messages
91,370
I'm saying we don't need to spend it on more 'strike'. Only five teams scored more tries than us after 24 rounds. We have plenty of strike. What we need to spend Gutherson's money on is better defenders. Only the Tigers were worse this year, and last year only five teams were worse (but we had the sixth best attack). Even in 2022 we had the worst defence in the top eight.
 
Stevie

Stevie

Bench
Messages
3,160
Poupou Escobar said:
I'm saying we don't need to spend it on more 'strike'. Only five teams scored more tries than us after 24 rounds. We have plenty of strike. What we need to spend Gutherson's money on is better defenders. Only the Tigers were worse this year, and last year only five teams were worse (but we had the sixth best attack). Even in 2022 we had the worst defence in the top eight.
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Ok so would you like to suggest some defensive players that make a difference to our side? You know, for some discussion?
 
Poupou Escobar

Poupou Escobar

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91,370
Nah I dunno. Who's available? Williams will turn out to be a great signing I reckon. We need a hooker and an edge forward, but the quality we want is unlikely to be available for 2025. Maybe the Knights will let Brailey go? He will chew up a fair chunk of Gutherson's wad. No he's not a star, but he is a first grader and hookers aren't cheap. They are the only member of the spine that defends in the middle after all.

For 2026 signings there's Robson. He would be the second highest paid hooker after Grant, maybe on par with Koroisau. But since we now have a much cheaper fullback than we did, maybe we can justify Robson's cost. I haven't looked at which edge forwards are available.
 
Poupou Escobar

Poupou Escobar

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Messages
91,370
There's a few second rowers that are available for 2026 and defend well. Nikora or Wilton perhaps? Connelly Lemuelu? Dylan Lucas? Pearce-Paul might be the best of the lot. Jacob Host is unexciting but solid, which is probably what we need. It's about correctly balancing the cap. Egan Butcher is similar to Host but younger. But my first choice is Jackson Ford. Very good defender and in 2026 he'll be at his peak with a few years still in front of him. And there should be less demand for him than for Kai Pearce-Paul, making him more affordable.
 
Obscene Assassin

Obscene Assassin

First Grade
Messages
6,356
Poupou Escobar said:
He would still be better placed for the second carry on the other than wing than at centre.

We would lose his defence against the high kick.
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Yes. There are positive and negatives for him playing each position. I'd rather him play wing but I can see why he and Ryles will want him playing centre if they choose to go that way.
 
hineyrulz

hineyrulz

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Messages
153,759
The Colonel said:
Charlie Guymer, Jezaiah Funa-Iuta, Teancum Brown, Tyrese Lokeni, Dom De Stradis, Jock Brazel, Brock Parker, Sam Tuivaiti, Max Tupou...
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Guymer has been used as a middle and how much first grade have these others played?? Zerohow much reserve grade have they played??

You telling me that Penrith have no promising back rowers coming through??

They do have Martin and Sorensen, add in Garner. How is his path not blocked there as well??
 
Gronk

Gronk

Moderator
Staff member
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77,703
Look, you want to keep em. But perspective suggests that the conversion rate is low.

2018 team

TEAM:

Max Altus - Farrer Memorial Agricultural College, Tamworth
Jalal Bazzaz - Illawarra Sports High School, Berkeley
Bradman Best - Brisbane Waters Secondary College, Woy Woy
Zac Cini - St Dominic's College, Penrith
Juwan Compain - Palm Beach Currumbin State High School, Gold Coast
Stephen Crichton - Patrician Brothers College, Blacktown
Harry Croker - Taree High School, Taree
Tom Dearden - Palm Beach Currumbin State High School, Gold Coast
Matthew Doorey - Westfields Sports High School, Fairfield West
Matthew Dragisic - Marist College, Canberra
Ryan Gray - De La Salle College, Revesby Heights
Jock Madden - All Saints College, Maitland
Luca Moretti - Waverley College, Waverley
Ratu Nanovo - Cambridge Park High School, Cambridge Park
Tesi Niu - Marsden State High School, Logan
Franklin Pele - Endeavour Sports High School, Caringbah
Jason Saab - Westfields Sports High School, Fairfield West
Tommy Talau - Westfields Sports High School, Fairfield West
Jayden Tanner - Patrician Brothers College, Blacktown
Peni Teaupa - Holy Cross College, Ryde
Star To'a - Newcastle High School, Newcastle
Bronson Xerri - Endeavour Sports High School, Caringbah
 
Gronk

Gronk

Moderator
Staff member
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77,703
Could it be that Islander boys excel at 17's as they are physically more mature as forwards at that point in their lives ?
 
The Colonel

The Colonel

Immortal
Messages
41,992
hineyrulz said:
Guymer has been used as a middle and how much first grade have these others played?? Zerohow much reserve grade have they played??

You telling me that Penrith have no promising back rowers coming through??

They do have Martin and Sorensen, add in Garner. How is his path not blocked there as well??
Click to expand...

I didn't say his pathway wasn't blocked at Penrith - I said it was blocked in a similar way to what his path is at Parramatta.

You made the joke that it was Lane and Cartwright blocking him. It isn't. You are basing it on first grade.

Sangalang has predominantly played as a middle forward off the bench and didn't feature in Jersey Flegg after playing SG Ball. The players listed above played Flegg and some came through the same SG Ball side to play Flegg and in the case of Funa-Iuta, NSW Cup.

Disappointing to lose an Australian Schoolboy to the Panthers but in saying that, the Panthers SG Ball and Harold Matthews sides didn't feature in the finals this year and it would be easy to assume that the pathways to Jersey Flegg based on that may be a little easier for him than it is at Parramatta.
 
Obscene Assassin

Obscene Assassin

First Grade
Messages
6,356
The Colonel said:
I didn't say his pathway wasn't blocked at Penrith - I said it was blocked in a similar way to what his path is at Parramatta.

You made the joke that it was Lane and Cartwright blocking him. It isn't. You are basing it on first grade.

Sangalang has predominantly played as a middle forward off the bench and didn't feature in Jersey Flegg after playing SG Ball. The players listed above played Flegg and some came through the same SG Ball side to play Flegg and in the case of Funa-Iuta, NSW Cup.

Disappointing to lose an Australian Schoolboy to the Panthers but in saying that, the Panthers SG Ball and Harold Matthews sides didn't feature in the finals this year and it would be easy to assume that the pathways to Jersey Flegg based on that may be a little easier for him than it is at Parramatta.
Click to expand...

I'd just add that Sangalang has only ever played as a middle in our rep teams and in schoolboys. And unfortunately Funa-Iuta got injured before he could play cup.
 
Pazza

Pazza

First Grade
Messages
9,790
hineyrulz said:
Guymer has been used as a middle and how much first grade have these others played?? Zerohow much reserve grade have they played??

You telling me that Penrith have no promising back rowers coming through??

They do have Martin and Sorensen, add in Garner. How is his path not blocked there as well??
Click to expand...

That's why Panthers have all the best prospects.... they literally have no one blocking their pathway to FG. Matt Cameron a true innovator.

JR and his team have some work to do, young players just don't take Parramatta seriously when it comes to a place to make a career for themselves.
 
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